85mm f/1.2L II - FTM?

Hello guys,

I recently read on The Digital Picture, that "And very important - make sure that you do not turn the MF ring while shooting in AF mode as FTM (Full Time Manual) focusing is enabled. Especially if you are focusing and recomposing. The natural location to hold this lens means that your left hand is on the focus ring and the slightest movement will result in an OOF shot."
http://www.the-digital-picture.com …L-II-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

Now I had 3 of these lenses, (one was Mk 1), a brand new 85 1.2L II built in 2014, and an older built in 2007.
I never noticed it having FTM.

I remember on the previous one I had to switch to Manual, to make sure the inner barrel is not extended.
(If it is extended, I switch to MF, and rotate the focus ring, until it goes back.)
On the current one, I still cant find an FTM function.

Is the issue with me, or is it that this lens does not have FTM?
If it has, what am I doing wrong?!


Thank you.

NemethR wrote in post #18378145
Hello guys,

I recently read on The Digital Picture, that "And very important - make sure that you do not turn the MF ring while shooting in AF mode as FTM (Full Time Manual) focusing is enabled. Especially if you are focusing and recomposing. The natural location to hold this lens means that your left hand is on the focus ring and the slightest movement will result in an OOF shot."
http://www.the-digital-picture.com …L-II-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

Now I had 3 of these lenses, (one was Mk 1), a brand new 85 1.2L II built in 2014, and an older built in 2007.
I never noticed it having FTM.

I remember on the previous one I had to switch to Manual, to make sure the inner barrel is not extended.
(If it is extended, I switch to MF, and rotate the focus ring, until it goes back.)
On the current one, I still cant find an FTM function.

Is the issue with me, or is it that this lens does not have FTM?
If it has, what am I doing wrong?!

Thank you.

same thoughts on my end. I did not know about this as well

I thought the FTM function in the Canon lenses worked just the same as the FTM that I have in my Sigma 150-600 C, which is the only lens I have with FTM. It is a function that is always on, so that even if the lens is in AF mode you can simply turn the focus ring to manually focus the lens. I find it very useful with this lens, since when you are a long way out, as you can be if you need to quickly move from close to MFD to out near infinity, or even just 20m or so, the image is so defocused the system cannot find anything to focus on. I do use BBAF with the focus removed from the shutter, so I haven't really tried this with the AF active. You are supposed to be able to manually adjust the focus, certainly after it thinks it has locked in one shot mode, but I tend not to use it like that myself.

The Sigma has three autofocus modes, AF, AF with manual, and manual mode, although I can't really see any difference with the operation of the focus in either of the two AF modes.

Alan

I think I figured it out.

The 85mm 1.2L has an Electronic focusing system, that means, that to turn the focusing ring, the camera needs to be powered on.
(This was nothing new to me.)

What I did not know is, that in AF mode, the lens does not always get power from the camera, only when the camera activates the focus mechanism.

This means, that Full Time Manual focus ONLY works, when you half press the shutter button.
DO NOT EVER use it with AI Servo!

So to make it work, in One Shot mode you need to focus on something, keep half-pressed the shutter button, and then rotate the MF ring.
If you do not half-press the shutter button, it wont work, as the lens is not getting power to rotate the focusing mechanism.

So to be short:
AF mode - No Manual Focus, only if you keep half-pressing the shutter button, after you focused on something, camera needs to be turned on.
MF Mode - Manual Focus enabled, but camera needs to be turned on.

Why should you DO NOT EVER us it with AI Servo? What about AI Focus (which is similar)?

BushWacker wrote in post #18379270
Why should you DO NOT EVER us it with AI Servo? What about AI Focus (which is similar)?

You have a point with AI Focus, tbh, I never use that one, so I forgot about it.

Why you should not use:
Because the focusing mechanism as far as I understand (I am not a technician, so that is only the info I was able to gather), could be damaged if the Camera tries to move it one way, and you try to move it the other way.
Again I might be missing some safety mechanism, in that case it would be fine.

BushWacker wrote in post #18379270
Why should you DO NOT EVER us it with AI Servo? What about AI Focus (which is similar)?

AI-Focus isn't similar to anything. It isn't even a focus mode. It is a switch that determines whether to put you into ONE-SHOT or AI-SERVO. It is kind of like a modern thermostat. You set the temp to 72, and the thermostat determines whether to call for heat or A/C. Except your thermostat KNOWS the temperature, AI-FOCUS is just guessing. Better to program a button to do ONE-SHOT <-> AI-SERVO, and make the decision yourself.

I shoot a lot of music performance shows and find it useful for those artists that move suddenly while they play. Ideally you catch them when they are stopped for a moment but sometimes they just move without warning. AI Servo doesn't work well because most of the time they stand still long enough for me to auto focus on them and with AI Servo I get too many OOF shots. With AI Focus most of the time I'm just using the Auto-Focus but sometimes when they move quickly without warning I still get the shot. Agree it's about 50/50 if they move suddenly but 1/2 is better than none in my opinion.

With all that said it still didn't answer my question above but thanks for your opinion.

BushWacker wrote in post #18380034
With all that said it still didn't answer my question above but thanks for your opinion.

I think I answered it.
I believe (again I am not a technician), but since the focusing ring is turned by an electric motor, even in FTM/Manual mode the mechanism could be damaged, if the camera wants to turn it one way, and you the opposite way.

Canon generally does not recommend to use FTM in AI Servo mode, but because of the sepciality of this lens, I think this is even more so the case with the 85L.

I might be wrong though.

Sorry missed it the first time, thanks for the reply and answer to my question....

This is the same way it works with mirrorless cameras, since all the lenses are drive by wire.

Canon does not recommend AI servo because of the thin dof and the slowness of the AF which can cause the lens to hunt and mis-focus. (I think)
The lens has a fly-by-wire focus ring which means it is not mechanically coupled to the optical train.

As you say, the focus ring is right at the end of the lens and has virtually not tactile resistance which makes it easy to move if attempting focus and re-compose.

I disabled the manual focus, in camera, to avoid oof shots.

Not all cameras can do this though.

I actually shoot Rallyecars with the 85 1.2L at f1.4, f1.8 just for fun, to see what happens.
I can tell you, that the AF system is up to the task.

On the other hand what you say about easily moving the focusing ring...
That is a good idea. I will check out, if the 5Ds can do it or not. - I suppose it can.

I use my 85 for macro sometimes.
I'm not saying the af is not up to the job but f1.2 at min focal distance renders a very thin DOF. If I as much as breath I will miss focus.

fordmondeo wrote in post #18381826
I use my 85 for macro sometimes.
I'm not saying the af is not up to the job but f1.2 at min focal distance renders a very thin DOF. If I as much as breath I will miss focus.

I see, and well yeah
Sometimes I have to make 2-3-4 shots of the same image, to nail the focus to a point I want, and not because the camera misses, but because, I breathe, or just slightly lean towards the model